Methuen man held on drug, assault charges

By Lisa Redmond, lredmond@lowellsun.com

Updated:
10/31/2012 12:01:36 AM EDT

LOWELL -- Fresh footprints in dog feces in the basement of a Lowell home allegedly led police to a red backpack with a semiautomatic handgun inside in a ceiling and a cache of prescription drugs, prosecutors said.

In Lowell District Court Monday, Steven O'Neil, 32, of 11 College St., Methuen, pleaded not guilty to charges of possession of a class B drug (two counts), possession of a class C drug, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a large-capacity firearm, possession of a firearm without a firearms identification card, sell/possess an electric stun gun, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, failure to stop for police and speeding.

Judge Lynn Rooney ordered O'Neil held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing on on Friday.

Prosecutor Regina Goldman explained that at around 9 a.m. on Friday, Lowell police were performing routine traffic patrol when they saw a Toyota speeding along Gorham Street.

When police pulled the car over, Steven O'Neil, was sweating, had blood-shot eyes and smelled of alcohol, Goldman said. When officers asked O'Neil to get out of the car, he allegedly told them, "I'm not getting out of the car. You better call for backup.''

With that remark, O'Neil allegedly put the car in drive and hit the gas, forcing one officer to be pulled out of the way by another officer, Goldman said.

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Police chased the Toyota, which was traveling at speeds of up to 80 mph in a residential area, Goldman said. But police had run the license plate number and knew the address where the car was registered.

When police arrived at the Gorham Street home they found a large, black Hummer in front of the Toyota, concealing it from public view.

As police knocked on the door, they saw a woman and children in the home. Goldman said the woman appeared to be in fear.

O'Neil emerged from the bathroom and police arrested him. Officers found numerous narcotics in plain view and nearly $3,000 in cash, Goldman said.

While police were upstairs, they heard a cellphone ringing in the basement. Police allegedly saw a dozens of pills, such as Percocet, Vicodin, and oxycontin pills, Goldman said.

In asking for $5,000 cash bail, Goldman said O'Neil has 36 convictions on his record including domestic assault and gun convictions.

But O'Neil's attorney argued there is no direct link between his client and the evidence.

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